Airlines fight EU rules on air quality

The European Union is starting to look like an environmental bully in the friendly skies — and the behavior could end up pushing global carriers out of its airspace.

Airlines that fly into and out of EU nations are fighting to overturn a new rule that could cost them billions of dollars for their carbon dioxide emissions — including emissions generated beyond European airspace during international flights. The United States and other countries denounced the move and want the EU to reconsider its position.

“There’s no question this will add a significant new cost to an already burdened airline industry,” said Steve Lott, a spokesman for the Air Transport Association, which is representing American Airlines and the merged United/Continental Airline in a pending lawsuit against the EU. “What we don’t want to do is stunt the growth, or cap the growth, of the aviation industry, because the aviation industry drives global economies.”

The EU has shown no signs of backing down. A Washington-based official with the European Union’s governing body says this is an important step, a “building block,” toward cleaning the environment.

“We will go ahead hoping that others will follow in the future,” Christian Burgsmueller, a counselor at the European Union Delegation to the United States, told The Washington Times.

An American Airlines plane is parked at the terminal at O’Hare International ... more >

Mr. Burgsmueller has said it wouldn’t be fair to impose the fee only on European airlines.

“We need a neutral criteria that is equal for everybody,” he said. “The only criterion is that the flight either lands or departs from an EU airport.”

The Emissions Trading System, or ETS, which began in 2005, will expand to airlines starting in January. It would require the industry to improve air quality by cutting its carbon dioxide emissions average from the 2004-06 period by 3 percent in 2012 and 5 percent in 2013. Carriers, which would receive 85 percent of their emissions certificates free of charge, would have to bid for the rest.

This is one issue — a rare one these days — that does not appear to divide American lawmakers. The U.S. has joined China, Australia, Canada and the United Arab Emirates in protesting the move, saying it violates international law, which calls for a regulator, such as the International Civil Aviation Organization, to make these decisions.

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure is looking at a bill — the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act of 2011 — that would make it illegal for U.S. airlines to participate in the program. The panel hopes this will persuade the EU to drop the plan.

“Now you’ve got the United States really up in arms,” said Justin Harclerode, a spokesman for the committee.

If enacted, the legislation could force domestic airlines out of the EU and result in retaliatory expulsions by the U.S. against European airlines.

The bill, which is receiving bipartisan support in the House, could get a markup as soon as Congress reconvenes in September.

Furthermore, ATA and several U.S. airlines are fighting the rule in the European Court of Justice. They argued against the rule July 5, and a decision is expected by the end of the year.

Question of the Day

Does President Obama love America?

Ask Congress

About the Author

Tim Devaney is a national reporter who covers business and international trade for The Washington Times. Previously, he worked for the Detroit News, Grand Rapids Press, Portland Press Herald and Bangor Daily News. Tim can be reached at tdevaney@washingtontimes.com.